Treadmill exercising device



July 6, 1965 H. J. ROBINSON TREADMILL EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Sept. 27, 1963 INVEN TOR.

#42010 J RUE/M50 4r raw/11y United States Patent Office 3,l3,2$'i Patented July 6, 1965 pun 3,193,237 TREADMHJL EKERCEING DIWlCE Harold H. Robinson, 1$29 Asbnry Paris, Detroit, Mich. Filed Sept. 27, 1263 Ser. No. 312,158 2 Claims. (t'll. 272-53) This invention relates to treadmills and has particular reference to an exercising machine, suitable for therapeutic use in a hospital, clinic or home.

An object of the invention is to generally improve devices of the character indicated and to provide a device which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and efiicient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated, which is constructed and arranged so that a person who is suffering from partial paralysis of the lower limbs may rest himself on the device and exercise the lower portions of the legs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated, which is readily adjustable, so that it may be used by a child or an adult with equal facility.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character indicated, which includes a treadmill, having a means for adjusting the tension thereon.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character indicated, which is constructed with frictional means for varying the load on the treadmill.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, reference being made from time to time to the accompanying drawings, forming part of the within disclosure, in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a section taken substantially on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a section taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing it will be understood that in the embodiment herein disclosed, the reference character 7 indicates in general the base of the device, which is preferably made of side members 8, 9, 10, and 11, and end members 12 and 13, which are assembled and secured to one another by any suitable means, such as metal screws 14, or other suitable means. The base 7 is preferably provided with rubber elements 15, which prevent the device from slipping on a smooth floor and absorbs some of the shock developed during the operation of the device.

Secured to the side members 8 and 11, as at 16, are corner posts 17, 18, 19 and 20. These corner posts are preferably tubular and are arranged to receive the lower ends 21, of the U-shaped front grab bar 22, and the rear grab bar 23, which are adjustable for height and may be locked in various adjusted positions by means of the set screws 24, which threadedly engage suitable bores formed in the walls of corner posts 17, 18, 19 and 29.

Side bars 25 and 26 have their ends received in the T fittings 27, 28, 29 and 39, which T fittings in their lowest position, as shown in FIG. 1, rest on the upper ends of the corner posts 17, 18, 19 and 20. The ends of the grab bars 22 and 23 are extended through the T fitttings 27, 28, 29 and 30, so that the side bars 25 and 26 may be elevated above the position shown in FIG. 1. The T fittings 27, 28, 29 and 30, are provided with set screws 31, so that the side bars 25 and 26 may be locked in any desired elevated position. This structure is provided so that the device may be used by a child or an adult.

Slidably mounted on the side bars 25 and 26 is a U- shaped plate member 32, which has outwardly directed terminal ends 33 which engage the side bars 25 and 26. The-member 32 serves as a seat and is cushioned as at 34, and is provided with a cushioned back rest 35, which is Welded or otherwise secured to the member 32.

Another platelike member 36, having downturned ends 37, is slidably supported on the side bars 25 and 26, and serves as a table for anyone using the seat 32-34.

Secured by welding or otherwise suitable means to the inside faces of the side members 8 and 11, is a plurality of shaft hangers 38, in which are journaled the shafts 39, the ends of which are provided with bearings 40. A roller 41 is mounted on each shaft 39 and rotates therewith. The rollers 41 are closely spaced so that they may support the endless belt 42, which serves as the treadmill floor for the device. The endless belt 42 is provided with a belt tensioner 43, FIG. 3, which is pivoted in suitable slots 44, formed in the side members 8 and 11. A lever 45 is secured to the member 43 and is arranged to elevate and lower the member 43 to provide more :or less tension on the endless belt 42. The lever 45 may be locked in any degree of position by the notched bracket as, FIG. 1.

In order to put a drag on the endless belt 42 I provide a friction member 47, which is positioned on the end of a threaded member 48, which engages a threaded bore formed in the end member 12. The threaded member 48 is turned by means of the handle 49, so that more or less friction may be exerted on the endless belt 42 to vary its load.

In order to use the device, the patient may enter by lifting or removing either the grab bar 22 or grab bar 23, or by crawling under the same. The seat 32 and the table 36 may be lifted or swung out of position to permit the patent to enter. After which the grab bars 22 and 23, and the side bars 25 and 26 are elevated to the desired position so that the patient may stand up and use the :front grab bar 22, or the side bars 25 and 26, while he walks, or may recline on the seat 32, so that his feet touch the endless belt 42, whereby he can exercise his legs from the knees down. The table 36 is provided so that the patient, when seated, may have a book or cards, or other recreational media in front of him.

It is believed that the operation of the device is obvious from the foregoing description.

Having described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patient is:

1. In device of the character described including a frame, rollers journaled in said frame and an endless belt passing over said rollers, the combination of a plurality of corner posts secured to said frame, grab bars telescoping the ends of said posts, T fittings slidable on said grab bars, and a pair of side bars secured to pairs of said T fittings, with means to lock said grab bars, said T fittings and said side bars in adjusted vertical positions, there being a seat and back rest adjustably mounted on said side bars.

2. In device of the character described including a frame, rollers journaled in said frame and an endless belt passing over said rollers, the combination of a plurality of corner posts secured to said frame, grab bars telescoping the ends of said posts, T fitttings slidable on said grab bars, and a pair of side bars secured to pairs of said T fittings, with means to lock said grab bars, said T fittings and said side bars in adjusted vertical positions, there being a table slidably supported on said side bars, and a seat "and; back-rest slidably supported on Said side bars 1,082,940 12/13 Flora 272-69 in closely spaced relation be said table. 1,211,765 1/17 Schmidt 27269 References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENTS" 5 734,490 8/32 France- 759,296 5/04 Morairty 272-69 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED INCLUDING A FRAME, ROLLERS JOURNALED IN SAID FRAME AND AN ENDLESS BELT PASSING OVER SAID ROLLERS, THE COMBINATION OF A PLURALITY OF CORNER POSTS SECURED TO SAID FRAME, GRAB BARS TELESCOPING THE ENDS OF SAID POSTS, T FITTINGS SLIDABLE ON SAID GRAB BARS, AND A PAIR OF SIDE BARS SECURED TO PAIRS OF SAID T FITTINGS, WITH MEANS TO LOCK SAID GRAB BARS, SAID T FITTINGS AND SAID SIDE BARS IN ADJUSTED VERTICAL POSITIONS, THERE BEING A SEAT AND BACK REST ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SIDE BARS. 